Journal of forensic and legal medicine
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The whole population is susceptible to infection but elderly people with previous diseases are at greater risk. All these epidemiological data show that older age represents an important risk factor for infection and especially for mortality. In recent weeks an increase in mortality among the elderly has been observed in many Italian residential care homes. ⋯ According to the ISS report, 7.4% of the total deaths in care homes for elderly involved patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and 33.8% involved patients with flu-like symptoms. Herein, we discuss the dangerous spread of COVID-19 in residential care homes for elderly. In addition, we present a case of an elderly person admitted to a residential care home, whose COVID-19 diagnosis was performed only after death.